The ferris wheel's been planted, the entry forms returned, the dogs bathed, allowances saved, curfews set.

In the final days before the 141st annual Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair begins, volunteers are plugging through the fair's "to do" list. It's a list that Eleanor Neubert - fair manager for 19 years - knows well.

All bets were off for those who planned to pace themselves during the opening morning of the 142nd Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair.

There was record turnout at the start of the 143rd annual Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair, which began yesterday. Overcast skies kept people away from the beach, so they came to the fair instead, said Eleanor Neubert, fair manager.

Yesterday's opening day was full of fun and a few glitches. The ever popular Ferris wheel, which gives riders a skyline view of the fairgrounds, broke down in the first hours of the fair. The apparatus had to be hand cranked so riders could get off. "They've ordered a part," said Ms. Neubert.

Along with the Ferris wheel and the tilt-a-whirl, one of the wildest rides of the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair this year was provided by the weather.

Eleanor Neubert, fair manager, said the weather gets much of the credit for the fact that attendance this year totaled 27,887 people, more than a thousand above last year's total and an all-time record for the fair.

The 144th annual Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair set records in attendance, and participation, resulting in shortages in unexpected ways.

"This is even better than the Clinton years," said fair manager Eleanor Neubert, who reported attendance of 29,022 over the four-day fair, up more than a thousand from last year.

It may be only a few minutes shy of 10:30 in the morning, but as
Rocky Magnuson reminds the stream of people walking by, it's never
too early to enjoy a little kettle corn.

It was nearing four o'clock at the Martha's Vineyard
Agricultural Society's 143rd annual Livestock Show and Fair on
Saturday - time for the Birds of Prey show to begin - but in
the heart of the crowd beside the tent full of owls and hawks, it was
not a peregrine falcon but rather President Bill Clinton who was
attracting the attention.

This week brings the dog shows and skillet throws, tractor pulls and
spinning wools, oyster shucking, horse bucking, burger making and prize
taking that make up the 145th annual Martha's Vineyard
Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair - better known in a
single breath as the ag fair.

The festivities begin Thursday at 10 a.m. at the agricultural hall
in West Tisbury and close on Sunday at 7 p.m.

An account of the first Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society
Fair, which at the time was called simply the fair and cattle show, from
the Oct. 14, 1859 edition of the Vineyard Gazette recounts that the show
was "well attended by people from all parts of the County."

The gates opened half an hour early this year for the 146th annual
Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair
because of the number of people milling in the parking lot. And at 10:45
a.m. yesterday the line in front of the West Tisbury firemen's
hamburger booth was the shortest it will be all weekend. At peak hours,
the wait for a grilled-to-perfection burger can take up to 15 minutes,
but on this morning, only two people were waiting, their elbows up on
the counter.